Marking fluid container



Oct-10, 1961 s. N. RosENTHAL 3,003,461

MARKING FLUID CONTAINER Filed Aug. 5, 1959 United States Patent@ falce 3,003,461 MARKING FLUID CONTAINER Sidney N. Rosenthal, Belle Harbor, N.Y., assigner to Speedry Chemical Products, inc., Richmond Hill, N.Y. Filed Aug. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 831,251

6 Claims. (Cl. 118-266) The present invention relates to a marking fluid container for supplying marking iluid as required to an applicator for stencilling, striping or broad line marking.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the type indicated which insures repeated wetting of a transfer pad with the marking fluid.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which permits movement of the pad by an applicator relative to a container for the marking duid to repeatedly wet the pad while maintaining the pad in a flat condition.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which facilitates ilow of the marking fluid intothe container during filling operation as well as effective feeding thereof from the container to the pad for transfer to the applicator.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which is of simple and compact construction, economical to manufacture and reliable in operation to supply a marking liuid to an applicator.

These and other objects will become more appknrent from the following description and drawing in which like reference characters denote like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. I

In the drawing:

. FIGURE l is an extended perspective view of the device for storing and supplying a marking duid and applicator used therewith and showing the manner in which the device is used;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE l and showing the pad underlying an opening in the top of the container and the perfonated metal plate underlying the pad; and

FIGURE 3 is an extended view of the parts of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, FlGURE l illustratesl a device incorporating the present invention in a form comprising a cylindrical impervious container having a top wall or cover 11 provided with a central opening therein. Surrounding the top wall opening is an upwardly projecting annular iiange `13 defining atubular passageway 12 for guiding an applicator 14 into the container 1d' to wet the applicator with a marking fluid in the container. For purposes of description the marking fluid will hereinafter be referred to as ink, but it will be understood that the fluid may comprise any quick drying substance, such as paint, lacquer or other liquid. In the illustrated embodiment, the container 1t) which may be of glass or other impervious material has an open top with screw threads 15 adjacent its upper edge. The cover 11 which may be of any suitable impervious material has a depending flange 16 with cooperating screw threads 17 to adapt the cover to be screwed on to the upper edge of the container 10. lt will be'understood, however, that the container 10 may have other shapes and the cover 11 may be attached to the container in other ways than the screw threads 15 and 17l illustrated. However, in any of the constructions used, the cover 11 provides an endor top wall 18 of cover 11 extending between the inner endl opening of passageway 12 and the top edge of ange I6.

In accordance with the present invention an ink absorbent transfer pad 19 underlies the major portion of wall 18 and extends across the inner end opening of passageway 12 to supply ink to the applicator 14 and, in turn, is repeatedly wetted by ink in container 10 as it is depressed into the container by the applicator while at all times maintained in a substantially at condition. To this end, the container 1t)` is packed with loose compressible absorbent material, such as fibers 2t) for storing a supply of ink. Positioned centrally in the packing material 20 is a core 21 of a self-sustaining absorbent material, such as felt, synthetic sponge or other similar material. Surrounding the core 21 is a helical compression spring 22. A semi-cylindrical rigid piece 23 is provided between the felt core 21 and spring 22 which limits the compression of the spring and movement of pad 19.

The pad 19 is relatively thin and composed of a self-- sustaining material, such as felted fibers, synthetic sponge,Y or other similar material, enclosed in a fabric covering 25.. Positioned between the central core 21 and pad 19 is a perforated, substantially rigid plate 26 of metal or similar'l material which provides a sti backing for the pad tohold it iiat when depressed by the applicator 14 against the action of the spring 22. The plate 26 also maintains` the pad 19 iiat as it moves into engagement with the under surface of top wall 18 between the inner end opening of passageway 12 and depending flange 15 of the cover 11. Plate 26 has a pattern of perforations 27 and. 28 arranged in closely adjacent relationship over its entirearea through which ink may pass freely from absorbent. packing 20 and core 21 into said transfer pad 19.

ln accordance with a particular feature of the present invention, a projecting, substantially rigid spacing member, as lug 311 is provided between the cover 11 and perforated plate 26 which permits the free flow of ink from the passageway 12 into the container and the escape of air to Ifacilitate filling the container. The projecting lug 30 may depend from the cover 11 to engage and tilt downwardly one side of the perforated plate 26, but in the illustrated embodiment the spacing member is in the form of a tab folded upwardly from one side of the perforated plate 26 and in la direction to engage the underside of said top wall 18. The tab 30 is formed between parallel slits cut inwardly from the peripheral edge of the plate 26 and folded upwardly from the plane of the plate. The portion 31 at each side of the slits is folded downwardly on a line common with the upwardly folded tab 30 dening in effect a chord across the plate. The resulting plate 26 has a ilat side positioned adjacent one side of the inner end opening of passageway 12 and with the tab Sii engaging the under surface of top wall 18 of the cover adjacent the opening. The thin pad 19 overlying the perforated plate 26 also is substantially the same shape or peripheral contour and size as the plate 2.o and has a at side 32 corresponding to the flat side of the plate.

Thus, the perforated plate 26 is yieldingly urged toward the underside of top wall 18 by the spring 22 to press peripheral portions of the thin pad 19 against the annular under surface of wall 18, but is held in a tilted position, as shown in FIGURE 2, due to the engagement of the tab 30 with the cover so that the flat side 32 of the pad 19 is held away from the opposed portion of the under surface of wall 1-8 by the tab 30 to provide a slight spacing 33 between the edge of the pad and the cover at one side of the inner end opening of passageway 12 which permits ink poured into the open top of passageway 12 of the container to flow freely between the pad and the inner end of passageway 12 and through the perforations 27 and 28 in plate 26 into the packing 20 in the container 10 as it permits the air freely to escape.

For purposes of description let it be assumed that the absorbent material 20 and central core 21 in container 10 are saturated with ink. The applicator 14 is guided through passageway 12 into Contact with pad 19 by the annular flange 13, As pressure is applied to the handle of the applicator 14, the pad 19 and underlying perforated plate 26 are depressed against the action of spring 22 and such downward movement of the perforated plate 26 is limited by the semi-cylindrical sleeve 2.3. During such depression of the pad i9 and underlying perforated plate as a unit, the packing 2o and core` 21 are compressed to force ink upwardly through the perforations 27 and ZS in the plate 26, to wet the pad 19 with ink. Ink is then transferred from the pad 19 to the absorbent end of the applicator 14 which may be then used as a marker. The device is operated in the ink to the applicator 14 and to repeatedly wet the pad during each operation of the applicator. During each depression of pad 19 by applicator 14, the plate 26 provides a substantially rigid backing Ifor the pad to maintain it in a substantially flat condition while it is reciprocated and when it engages the under surface of wall 18 of the cover 11.

Ink is supplied to the container l() by merely pouring it into the open top 12 through the annular flange 13. The ink llows freely through the space 33 and expanded portion of the pad 19 adjacent the flat edge 32, the ai-r escaping through this space. The ink then flows through the perforations 27 and 28 in the plate 26 and into the absorbent packing 2li and core 21. This s due to the upwardly projecting tab 30 which holds the flat edge portion 32, of the pad away from the cover 11 at one side thereof at 33. Thus, the packing 20 is supplied 4with ink and any backing up of the ink fin the tlange 13 Yis prevented.

`It will now be observed that the present invention provides a device for supplying marking fluid to an applicator which, in use, produces repeated wetting of a pad with the marking lluid. It also will be observed that the construction permits movement of the pad by the applicator relative to a container to repeatedly wet the pad while maintaining the pad flat. It also will be observed that the present invention `provides a Space 'between the pad and top closure of the container to Yfacilitate the flow of making iluid into the container. It Will still further be observed that the present invention provides a device of the type indicated which is of simple and compact construction, adapted for economical manufacture and one which is reliable in operation to supply marking iluid to an applicator.

While a single embodiment of the invention is herein illustrated and described it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limitation in this 11espect the invention is dened by the following claims.

VI claim:

1. A device for supplying marking lluid to an appli cator comprising a container for the marking tluid having a top cover with an opening therein and Yproviding a top wall between the opening and sides of the container, a packing of absorbent material in the container, a depressible perforated plate overlying the packing, a pad of absorbent material between the perforated plate -and the cover and underlying the opening in the latter, means acting between said cover and said perforated plate for spacing only a minor peripheral portion of said pad at one edge thereof from ,said cover, and a compression spring acting between the bottom of the container and the perforated plate which yields under downward Vpressure exerted on said plate to compress the packing and cause marking uid to flow through the per-forated plate to wet the pad while maintaining the pad substantially ilat.

2. A device for supplying markingiluid to an applij manner described to applyoator comprising a container for the marking iluid including a cover which provides a top wall having an opening therein and which extends between said opening and side wall portions of the container, a marking iluid carrier of absorbent material in the container, a depressible perforated plate overlying the carrier, a pad of absorbent material between the perforated plate and the cover and undei-, lying said opening, a spacing member between said cover and said perforated plate for spacing said pad at one edge thereof from said top cover, la compression spring acting between the bottom of the container and the perforated plate which yields to pressure exerted by the applicator on said pad to compress the carrier and cause marking fluid to ilow therefrom through the perforated plate to wet the pad while maintaining the pad substantially flat, said spacing member being in the form of a lug projecting upwardly from yone edge of the perforated plate and engaging the lateral under surface of the cover at one side of said opening to tilt the plate and the overlying pad and thereby provide a space between the pad and 'the cover through which the-marking iluid may freely flow Iinto the container and air may escape from the container.

3. A device for supplying marking fluid to an applicator comprising a container for the marlc'ng fluid including a cover Vwhich provides a top wall having an opening therein and which extends between said opening and side wall portions of the container, a marl;- ing lluid carrier of absorbent material in the container, a depressible perforated plate overlying the carrier, a pad of absorbent material between the perforated plate and the cover and underlying said opening, a spacing member 'between said cover and said perforated plate for spacing said pad at one edge thereof from said top cover, a compression spring acting between the bottom of the container and the perforated plate which yields to pressure exerted by the applicator on said to compress the carrier and cause `marking fluid to Yflow therefrom through the perforated plate to wet the pad while maintaining the pad substantially flat, the container being cylindrical and having an open top with attaching means at its `upper edge, the cover being detachable and having `a depending peripheral flange with attaching means adapted to interlock with the attaching means on the cylindrical container, and a flange projecting upwardly from the cover around the periphery of the opening, said perforated plate being in the general form of a disc with said spacing `lug projecting upwardly from one side thereof, and the pad being in generally circular form having a at peripheral portion adjacent the upwardly projecting lug and spaced from said cover to provide an open passage between the pad and the cover adjacent one edge of the opening therein.

4. A device for feeding marking fluid from a supply thereof in an absorbent carrier to a transfer pad and thence to ran applicator and wherein said carrier is arranged in a iluid confining container including a wall having an opening through which said applicator is movable lto receive marking fluid from said pad, a transfer pad 'being positioned in the container between said opening and -said carrier and larranged and adapted to receive marking fluid from the carrier and to transfer marking uid :to the applicator, a perforated plate in said container between said pad and said carrier and arranged and adapted to Vtransmit pressure from the applicator through said-pad to said carrier and to pass marking fluid through the plate perforations from said carrier to the pad, and a spacer arranged in the container in operative PQSitionbetween a portion of Vsaid wall at one side of said opening and ,a lateral portion o fsaid plate to retainthe plate normally in tilted position at an angle to the `Vaxis 0f .Said opening.

5. A device according to claim 4 and wherein said plate and said -pad are spring biased to normally retain peripheral portions of the upper face of said pad in overlapping Arelation to a major peripheral portion of the inner end of said opening and in spaced relation to a inw-ardly through the container opening against said minor peripheral portion thereof to provide a passageway pad. past an edge portion of the pad for feeding marking uid into said container and the carrier therein. References Cited in the tile of this patent l6. -A device according to claim 5 and wherein a spac- 5 ing member is interposed in the path of yielding axial UNITED STATES PATENTS movement 0f said plate and arranged and adapted to 608,642 Boggis Aug. 29, -1898 limit the extent of said movement and of the resulting 2,620,499 Dressel Dec. 9, 1952 compression of the carrier when the applicator is pressed 2,805,641 Rosenthal Sept. 10, 1957 

